Posted on 09/20/2010 4:23:53 PM PDT by Colofornian
American Fork » Former LDS seminary principal Michael Jay Pratt will spend at least five years in prison for sexually abusing a student 20 years younger than himself.
Fourth District Judge Christine Johnson imposed concurrent sentences of five years to life in prison for first-degree felony forcible sodomy and two object rape charges, and one to 15 years for forcible sexual assault, a second-degree felony. Johnson said it was a sentence that best balanced the needs of justice and mercy in a case that carried heavy religious overtones.
Pratt pleaded guilty to the crimes in June as part of an agreement in which prosecutors dropped 11 other charges.
Pratts attorney, Stephen McCaughey, sought to get Pratt two years in the Utah County Jail followed by a lengthy probation. He said Pratt had no prior criminal record, and the case did not involve violence or physical force. McCaughey argued Pratt would likely serve about six years in prison on the charges.
Pratt said he was sorry for what he had done, and was given enough time to hug his wife before he was escorted from the courtroom by sheriffs deputies.
Johnson said Pratts position as a teacher and spiritual adviser at Lone Peak High School placed him in a position of trust which he abused.
The victim and her family also told the court how Pratt had gained their trust as a dedicated, popular teacher and church leader who was helping the victim through a rough spot in life. He then manipulated the victim into going along with his sexual fantasies.
Justice was served, but it is a tragedy, the victims stepfather said after the hearing.
As usual you misrepresent what is said. Typical and old.
And be sure....many Christians here know exactly what you are doing...and what you are.
Oh?
Just HOW will THIS work?
Plain as day and easy to find if you actually look.
There you go again. UNABLE to back up your accusations.
What on earth are you talking about? And you people whine about me giving you links instead of looking things up for you. I gave you a link directly to what you asked and you still make a nonsensical reply.
LOL!! WOW!! Are you kidding me?
BTW, J. Smith was judged long ago....and I'd hazard a guess, I know where he is.
Keep posting....you are educating the masses.
Fixed?
Hardly!
We post MORMONism own words and they SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES!
You, OTOH, are too lazy to post what you consider the 'truth' to be, and can only say...
"It's over there if you wish to find it."
FWIW-
Put up or shut up.
Will you answer the question?
PD; you used to be kind of a mild mannered fellow.
What has happened?
I think some of the nasty attitude and behavior of the anti-Mormons that live on this board has rubbed off on me.
You are right I am getting annoyed. I know better than to argue with anti’s because it is pointless. They will always come back with another propaganda piece or strawman argument. The constant misrepresentations won’t stop. It is the way of things.
I might stop wasting my time conversing with the blind and simply give my links to the truth to whoever wants to see it.
Thanks for pointing out my attitude change.
I said: Wait you already answered. Jesus Christ is not sufficient and needs help from lds leaders.
What you said indeed shows that you (lds) do not believe Jesus Christ is sufficient.
The jury keeps wondering, "Huh? Where?"
And we LOOKED in your links and guess what? It is NOT there!
Now; you can claim we are wrong, claim we are LYING, claim we are misrepresenting stuff, but until you actually produce something to back up your ACCUSATIONS, the jury will side with us.
It appears to me that you've been TAUGHT that the stuff is there; but you've not actually SEEN it yourself.
You may want to take a little time away from FR and actually READ what you are encouraging others to read.
Wait you already answered. Jesus Christ is not sufficient and needs help from lds leaders.
This is not what was said and is a perfect example of the dishonest tactics used by the anti-Mormon crowd.
I am done arguing with a wall.
Undecided readers,
As an ex Mormon-basher, I invite everyone to read all of the multitude of Anti-Mormon attack threads and/or comments on this board and then do some research on your own from more than one side of the “issues”.
Is what all these Mormon attack squad people parrot day in and and day out on these boards true? Don’t take their word for it. Find out for yourself. Put forth some effort. You do want the truth right? Prove it.
Read both sides. Talk to both sides. Not just mine. Not just theirs. Make up your own mind.
Here’s a few links to get your started from a different viewpoint. The vast majority of the issues brought up can be found and addressed at http://www.fairlds.org/ I have found but here’s more.
http://scriptures.lds.org/
http://www.lds.org
http://www.fairlds.org/
http://www.mormonwiki.com/Main_Page
http://www.lightplanet.com/response/index.html
http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDS_Intro.shtml
http://www.answeringantimormons.com/index.htm
http://promormon.blogspot.com/
You REALLY need to SHOW these 'misrepresentations'...
Explain to me how what you said is not demonstrating that the lds jesus is not sufficient.
You are welcome.
Sometimes those that appear to be against us are more aware of changes than we or even our friends are.
Even though we disagree about our religion; we still need the bond of human fellowship.
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